Shower closure



y 1967 J. REICH 3,321,781

SHOWER CLOSURE Filed May 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY MM, @M, 1/4 A f May 30, 1967 J. REICH 3,321,781

SHOWER CLOSURE Filed May 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I80 I80 I80 20b 20c 200 I2 Q INVENTOR vllll /lalrl. gm

ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 3,321,781 SHOWER CLOSURE Jerome Reich, Boston, Mass, assignor to The General Tire & Rubber Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 9, 1963, Ser. No. 279,087 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-154) This invention relates generally to shower curtains and more particularly to shower curtains which are constructed so they do not blow out at the bottom or otherwise become displaced during use of the shower.

It is generally recognized that one of the primary problems with shower curtains is the displacement thereof from a protective position during operation of the shower. This displacement is caused by air and thermal drafts generated by operation of the shower spray itself. Various attempts have been made in the prior art to avoid such displacement including magnets incorporated in the curtain, suction cups provided around edges of the curtains, stiffening rods attachable to the curtains, and various means for weighting the lower edge of the curtain to reduce the probability of the curtain being displaced due to air and thermal currents. All of these means are op erab-le, to a certain extent, to achieve the desired purposes. However, they do tend to increase the cost, to complicate manufacture and use and to decrease the aesthetic appeal of the curtains.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved shower curtain which incorporates an integral means to resist deformation and displacement of the curtain under the influence of thermal and air current generated by the operation of a shower.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an integral, inexpensive and attractive stiffening structure for a shower curtain to prevent displacement thereof under the influence of air and thermal currents yet not interfcre with the opening and closing thereof.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved shower curtain which utilizes no foreign materials or materials unlike that of the shower curtain itself to provide stiffening structure for the curtain.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a shower curtain which utilizes stiffening strips of plastic material disposed vertically on a shower curtain.

These and other objects will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description.

This invention provides shower curtain of the usual configuration fabricated from a plastic material. The curtain is provided with a plurality of stiffening strips disposed in vertical, parallel spaced relationship to one another integral with or heat welded to the material of the curtain. These stilfening strips, due to their disposition, add rigidity to the curtain in a vertical direction to resist the deformation, bellowing and displacement normally induced by the air currents generated by operation of a shower device, yet do not effect the flexibility of the curtain in a horizontal direction thereby avoiding interference with the opening and closing of the curtain.

Many of the attendant advantages of this device will become better understood to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein like figures indicate like parts thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower curtain shown in its operative position in a bathtub;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the suspension portion of the curtain partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end on view of portions of the curtain of FIG. 1 in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

332L781 Patented May 30, 1967 FIG. 5 is a variation of the device of FIG. 4 embodyin g the invention;

FIG. 6 is another variation of the device of FIG. 4 embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 is yet another variation of the device of FIG. 4 embodying the invention;

FIG. 8 is still another variation of the device of FIG. 4 embodying the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 for a more complete understanding of the device, the shower curtain, shown generally at 2, is suspended from shower curtain rod 4 by curtain rings 6 of the usual type. The rings are disposed through eyelets 7 which are connected to the curtain in any suitable manner. The curtain is shown in an operative condition suspended in Mb 8 in the usual manner. However, it should be understood that the device is equally suited for use in a shower stall or any other suitable facility.

Curtain 2 comprises basic curtain panel 10 having stiffening strips 12 vertically disposed thereon. The strips are preferably disposed to coincide with eyelets 7, since these points represent the heaviest part of the curtain, but may be disposed intermediate the eyelets if so desired.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged View of a portion of the curtain showing the displacement of eyelet 7 through strip 12 and panel 10 and the disposition of ring 6. The sectional view of the curtain, showing eyelet 7 and ring 6 is shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, panel 10 is shown in an end view and partly broken away and having stiffening strips 12 connected to one surface thereof. In this embodiment, both panel 10 and strips 12 are formed of a heat-weldable plastic material and the strips may be connected to the panel by any of the many heat welding processes well known in the art. Although the above means of connection to the curtain is preferred, the strips could, of course, be attached by adhesive, solvent welded or any other suitable process. The strips shown in the drawings are generally rectangular in shape, however, they may be formed with scallops, curves, or the like to provide any desired decorative effect.

In operation, the shower curtain is drawn, in the usual manner, to the configuration of FIG. 1 and the shower 14 is turned on. As is Well known, the action of shower 14 creates both thermal and air currents which generally operate in a direction perpendicular to the surface of curtain 2. Depending on the relative temperature of the ambient air and the shower, forces are exerted on the curtain tending to either bellow it outwardly away from tub 8, thereby allowing spray from shower 14 to escape from the tub, or to pull the curtain inwardly, bringing it into contact with the bather, thereby interfering with his activity. The displacement may also pull the ends of the curtain away from the enclosure allowing spray from the shower 14 to escape therearound. stiffening strips 12 are preferably thicker than the material of curtain 10. They may, of course, be fabricated from the same material and attached; in either case, the increased thickness of material in these areas resists the bending forces imposed on the curtain by the above-mentioned currents and, through the increased rigidity, avoids deformation and displacement of curtain 10. Deformation, of course, is resisted by the rigidity itself and displacement of the curtain in an outward direction is resisted, when the curtain is used in conjunction with a tub as shown in FIG. 1, by the combination of rigidity of the curtain and contact with the lower edges thereof with the side of the tub. Inward deflection of the curtain or outward deflection when used in a shower stall, is avoided through the combination of rigidity of the curtain and the Weight of the curtain itself. Since, due to the rigidity of the curtain, the entire curtain must be moved by the force of the air currents rather than only a portion of the curtain, the total weight of the curtain resists the inward deflection. In addition, the moment arm of deflection is increased since the curtain must be deflected about the axis of the curtain rod rather than a buckiing or bending point at some lower location on the curtain. These features thereby provide the increased resistance to deflection by the curtain itself.

The vertical disposition of the stiffening strips obviously in no Way interferes with the lateral flexibility of the curtain since the panels in between are as flexible as the unstitfened sheet material.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the invention is shown in an end view, partly broken away. This embodiment comprises panels 16a and 16b disposed in parallel spaced relationship with stiffening strips 12 vertically disposed in parallel spaced relationship there between. Again, panels 16a and 161) are fabricated of a heat-weldable material and connection therebetween is accomplished through heat welding the panels to respective sides of the strips 12. This structure provides an advantage in that a larger cross sectional moment of inertia is realized due to the spacing of the panels.

Referring to FIG. 6, another variation embodying the invention comprises panels 18:: and 18]) disposed in parallel relationship having strips 12 vertically disposed in parallel spaced relationship therebetween. In this embodiment, the panels are again of heat-weldable material and are connected either through heat welding of the panels to one another between strips 12 or suitable heat welding of the panels and strips to one another as desired. In the former version, the strips need not be of a heat weldable material since no positive connection is necessary, and may even be fabricated of some rigid material such as metal or rigid plastic. Where strips 12 are not positively connected to the panels endwise retention may be accomplished by heat sealing the panels beyond the upper and lower ends of the strips.

Referring now to FIG. 7, still another embodiment of the invention is shown in an end view and comprises panels 20a, 20b and 200 disposed in coplanar adjacent relationship as shown with the adjacent edegs thereof disposed in the vertical direction. Stiffening strips 12 are disposed over the abutting edges of the panels as shown and, again, the material of the components being heat- Al. weldable, the structure is heat welded together in any suitable fashion.

In both the configuration of FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 of course, stiffening strips may be disposed on either side of the panel or on both sides of the panel if desired. In the configurtaion of FIG. 2, if strips 12 are disposed on both sides of the panel, they may be disposed adjacent one another or in alternating relationship without avoiding the intended scope of the invention.

FIG. 8 is yet another embodiment of the invention and illustrates an end view of a curtain comprising an integral structure. This structure may be provided by initially forming the curtain with the strips 12 projecting therefrom by forming with a suitable rolling operation or any other method known in the art. The resulting structure comprises panels 20a, 20b and strip 12".

The above description is, of course, exemplary and is presented to describe to a person skilled in the art methods of forming articles embodying the invention. It should therefore be understood that, within the scope of the appending claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An enclosure curtain comprising a panel of flexible, heat-Weldable plastic material having an upper edge thereto, a plurality of heat-weldable stiffening strips of plastic material of substantially greater thickness than said panel heat-welded to one face of said panel in spaced parallel relationship to one another perpendicular to said upper edge, and eyelets adapted to receive curtain support rings extending through said panel and strips adjacent said upper edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,163 1/1940 Sherman -126 2,472,081 6/1949 Kantor 161-37 X 2,525,121 10/1950 Fletcher 161-143 X 2,593,553 4/1952 Francis 161-406 X 2,681,377 6/1954 Smithers 161-123 X 2,932,121 4/1960 Weitzel 161-143 X ALEXANDER WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

JACOB H. STEINBERG, Examiner. 

